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[LankyBrit]

Hello all,

I just wanted to let everyone know that I've released a free to use Java application for designing and building domes/spheres/bridges/etc. in Minecraft.  I originally posted about the application on Reddit in this thread, but someone there mentioned that I should probably also post about it in this forum too.

If you'd like to see the dome I designed and built using the software last night, I've posted an image gallery here.  The first couple of images are a 3D render of the dome and a snapshot of one of the construction levels for it.  The rest of the images are the finished product.

I hope you find my little application useful.

Cheers,
LankyBrit.


Edit:  Application now updated to include free-form 3D layered design using the standard Minecraft building blocks.  You can get all the information in the original Reddit thread, or here.

Here's an example layer from a simple building design:


Here's the 3D projection of the ten layer design:

[ChargerIIC]

It doesn't seem to load with the textures - Does the application need minecraft installed to load textures?

[Johnsan]

Is there any ability to save plans?

[gdwnet]

I have all the programs needed to run this.

I use the CMD to go to the desktop where the .jar file is at then.


java -jar MinecraftStructurePlanner.jar

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: javax/media/j3d/Graph
icsConfigTemplate3D
at minecraft.planner.gui.displaypanels.ThreeDimensionalStructureDisplayP
anel.(ThreeDimensionalStructureDisplayPanel.java:24)
at minecraft.planner.gui.hemisphere.HemisphereDisplayPanel.(Hemisp
hereDisplayPanel.java:11)
at minecraft.planner.gui.provider.HemisphereProvider.(HemispherePr
ovider.java:26)
at minecraft.planner.gui.StructurePlanner.main(StructurePlanner.java:20)

Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: javax.media.j3d.GraphicsConfigTempl
ate3D
at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
....4 more


Can you please help me I want to use this program

[Spacecraft]

You are a God among men.

[Durian]

works great for me Had to manually add the java3d files to my java directory, but then it work perfectly
The dome builder is what I use mostly

[LankyBrit]

@Durian - Yes, it appears that the Java 3D installer for 1.5.2/64-bit is FUBAR'd, and doesn't put the jar files or DLL into the required directories.  You found the solution to that though

@gdwnet - Looks like Java 3D didn't install correctly.  Check out this Reddit thread which covers most of the usual problems and solutions.

@Johnsan - not yet, but I'm working on that code as we speak

@ChargerIIC - The URL issue which was causing the textures to not show correctly has been fixed.  Download version 0.93 or later and all should be good.

@Spacecraft - Thank you   I'm glad you're enjoying the application.

[Durian]

Ability to save and load is something no other planning program does really and a very good idea .

Might I make 'n few suggestions:
- exporting layers to a printable graphic format maybe
- more textures
- adding doors and such for the freeform
- open a saved generated shape in freeform for further editing
- more generatable shapes, usefull stuff like piramid, torus, multi arch bridge, suspension bridge, tetrahedron, etc.

some random stuff I would use in the planner

[LankyBrit]

The save and load I'm going back and forth over right now.  Part of me wants to export the design in an XML based format so that people could easily parse the structure/use XSL to display it.  It's so massively inefficient though that the other part of me is wanting to use a simple, optimized, byte based format.  Of course, that's not human readable, and not nearly as flexible.  I think I'll implement the XML serialization, then look at the file sizes that are generated.

Exporting the layers to a printable format is a good idea!  I'd been intending to build printing into the application, but that's always a pain in the arse with Java.  Might be better if I can find a simple way to, say, generate a PDF of the plans.  I'll look in to it.

What textures would you like added?  I'd tried to stick with the usual construction culprits (with the exception of glass, 'cos I haven't got the Java3D transparent alpha channel stuff worked out yet.)  Doors I'll add as soon as the alpha channel work is complete.

Free-form I have big plans for.  You'll definitely be able to load saved shapes into it for further editing, but I also want to add a bunch of extra features such as 'duplicate layer' and line/rectangle/filled rectangle.  I think I need to start putting a prioritized task list together for this thing

I had the multi-arch bridge already on the task list (I was calling it viaduct.)  I like the other shape ideas though, especially the torus!  Might have to do that one first, in fact

[Durian]

Looks like were on the same page

PDF export is a good idea, i do so love PDF. But export to PNG might also be good, adding the exported PNGs together in something like gimp then drawing arrows and adding notes to make blueprints with instructions is something sorely needed in the community I think.

I don't know much about save formats, but the options I think would be useful for saving/exporting the design:
1) a format the app can read again, something small so it can be emailed and shared easily and continued editing.
2) printable format, PDF, colour and back/white with symbolic legend for cheap printing maybe.
3) graphic format, PNG, for display on the forums, making detailed long multi-part mega structure instructions.

The textures I would like is every placeable block Nether blocks, logs, glass (skip the transparency for now, i don't need to see through the glass, just need to know that it is there ), some unplacebles as well, leaves specifically, just to be able to add a tree to the design to indicate "plant the thing here, and hope it grows", and tree houses are all the rage the last few weeks. Furnace, chest and workbench need some love to, and don't need to be true to minecraft, using the same texture on all sides is exceptable.

Half blocks and stairs are needed as well, they are used in most designs. Doors don't need the transparency, just like the glass, but I don't know how difficult the no cube parts are to add

Viaduct will be awesome, if I can adjust the amount of supports, the height and thickness of the arches, amount of arches parallel to each other and the distance in between. Torus needs inner radius, outer radius, height above center line, height below. Speaking of height below and above the center line, it would be nice for the 'sphere' shape as well, make eggs en UFO shaped buildings . Spirals are a big one to! Just thought of that, what else is difficult to make in minecraft, hmmm, a face shape generator if you are really bored haha, perfect easter island head finally

Tools for freeform like line, fill, ellips, square, figure 8, triangle, zigzag, are always fun, but I wonder if I would actually use them, but I guess adding the standard set of tools is needed.

Lastly the 3D view, changing the view direction would be nice, even if it is only the 4 views, one from each corner.

Can't wait for an update

[LankyBrit]

All good ideas   The Viaduct parameterisation is exactly how I'm implementing it!  The reason that I hadn't done the blocks you mentioned is because it needs differing textures on different sides, but yes I could add them in a rudimentary way and get them up-and-running in a short amount of time.  I'll see if I can get those in for the next update (it may be a little while though due to pays-me-money-work getting in the way.  I'll see if I can get some time in on Friday while I'm slowly digesting an entire turkey.)

As an aside, if you click in the 3D window you can then use the cursor keys to rotate around your design, and the shift+cursor keys to shuffle it around in the window.

[Stucuk]

LankyBrit said:

The save and load I'm going back and forth over right now.  Part of me wants to export the design in an XML based format so that people could easily parse the structure/use XSL to display it.  It's so massively inefficient though that the other part of me is wanting to use a simple, optimized, byte based format.  Of course, that's not human readable, and not nearly as flexible.  I think I'll implement the XML serialization, then look at the file sizes that are generated.

You could use Notch's NBT format. Its well documented and there are libraries to read it.

[LankyBrit]

Thanks for the suggestion;  I'll take a look into the NBT format!

[Stucuk]

Direct Link:
http://www.minecraft.net/docs/NBT.txt

Note: I don't know how easy it is to use without Pointers. With pointers anyway its not all that hard to create a unit to read/write NBT files as you can treat every "object" as a pointer.

[rsdworker]

looks great its will be useful for me cause if i wanted build a houses its will be great

[Durian]

Always wondered what that NBT thing was lol. And yes, pays-me-money-work is always in the way of our fun...

[jonnyvue]

T_T I still don't get how to use it... I downloaded the Java thingy... and installed it... but that's it... is another program supposed to show up? I clicked on the Java.exe again, and it went to installation again... >_>;; I don't get it...

[Stucuk]

Java is required by the Minecraft Structure Planner application. Java isn't the Minecraft Structure Planner application. There both separate things. You need to run the Minecraft Structure Planner application for it to err run.

[RustyDagger]

I wish i could get this to work win 7 64 bit iv moved files as said on that other link and it still wont run

Such a shame it looks good 2

[Impaired]

Great little program, but the inability to save is a deal breaker.  I just spent over an hour on a plan and now what? Leave my pc with the app open for the next day or week or however long it is before  I get the time to build it?  That's not going to work.  I see you were working on the save functionality a few weeks ago, I hope you haven't given up.

Here are a few other suggestions:

- The ability to change the grid size, when working on large projects the default grid size is way too large.  Also the app scrolls very slowly with the mouse wheel.

- A way to zoom out in 3d mode quicker, the mouse wheel is very slow when trying to zoom out on a large structure, also the scroll directions are reversed (scroll up should be zoom in, but it's zoom out).

- The ability to duplicate layers.

- A bucket tool for filling large areas.

- A brush tool with the ability to set the brush width for painting large areas.

- click and drag rotate and pan in 3d view

- glass, slow sand, bloodstone, lightstone, tree trunk, clay, and lava and water block textures are missing

- short bridges can miss steps (try a span of 20 and height of 8 for example)

- the ability to import an image to use as the backdrop  (as a guide for creative mode pixel art)

This is a great tool, I'd be happy to provide more feedback if you're still working on it.